Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - High Intensity Pigments concentrated shadow duo - cheeky
tokyorosa 12/8/2009 7:34:00 AM
I really like this duo! The colors are intense (though since they're reddish/burgundy they're not necessarily easy to pull off) and the slight shimmer to the shadows is very flattering. I don't use it every day, but I do use it often. Minus one lippie because the packaging is not great. It's awkward and difficult to open. And seriously, why bother with using 3/4 of an already too big package to house that rinky-dink, inch-and-a-half long, sponge-tipped applicator? Save yourself some money, L'Oreal, and just leave out that useless thing!
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CD/Books/Movies -Kevyn Aucoin - Book- Making Faces
tokyorosa 12/6/2009 10:58:00 AM
I bought this book long before I even began wearing makeup simply because I recognized that Kevyn Aucoin was a true artist. The photos are stunning (he took many of them himself I believe), and I could look at them and dream about being able to recreate some of the looks. (Ha, yeah, right!) It is a beautiful book for an MU amateur like me to dream over and I assume it would be a must-have for a professional.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Exact Eyelights
tokyorosa 12/2/2009 11:20:00 PM
This is a so-so mascara. I like that it's waterproof and subtle. I don't actually detect any gold in the mascara, but it might freak me out if I did. It doesn't flake on me, but it's not particularly great at either lengthening or thickening my lashes. It seems like more of a lash tint than anything. It's fine I guess, but I won't repurchases when there are so many other choices out there!
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Lip Gloss -Milani - Crystal Gloss for Lips in Whisper
tokyorosa 12/2/2009 11:09:00 PM
I am not a gloss girl, so this was a $3.99 impulse buy at Target. Turns out that it's the little gloss that could! It's very shiny, somewhat pigmented (which is great for me), a little sticky (but honestly, what gloss isn't??) and it comes in a cute little package. Besides that I actually like wearing it! The one drawback for me is the scent, which is somewhere between latex bandages and vanilla. The scent wears off pretty quickly, though, so no biggie.
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Moisturizers -Clean & Clear - Oil-Free Dual Action Moisturizer
tokyorosa 12/2/2009 4:25:00 AM
I bought this to help with some very, very minor breakouts on my jawline and temples because I thought that it would not be overly drying and that the low amount of SA would not affect my sensitive skin. Turns out I was wrong. It's *horrible*! I put it on and it burned like a chemical burn. I spent several minutes trying to rinse it all off my face and I even thought I might end up in the emergency room. It stopped burning after 10-15 minutes of rinsing with cool water (I even got in the shower just to let the water run over my face) and it left me with a layer of skin that felt hard and dry like cardboard. Do not use this product if you have sensitive skin!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Jergens - Ultra Healing Lotion
tokyorosa 12/1/2009 3:42:00 PM
It's cheap as chips (hence the two lippies), but definitely on the icky side. It really doesn't work any better than non-"Ultra Healing" lotions, it stays super sticky, tacky, icky for a long time, and it has a yucky chemical smell. I hate to toss away a full bottle (and of course I bought the big bottle because it was cheaper by the ounce than the smaller bottle), but I won't be repurchasing this stuff. Edited to add: After reading some ingredients lists on other lotions at the store, I started adding a bit of Monistat Chafing Relief Gel (which I use as a primer instead of Smashbox photo finish) to this lotion, and the dimethicone in the gel really ups the healing aspect. I'll finish off the bottle with the gel mixed in anyway!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Alba Botanica - Un-petroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly
tokyorosa 11/21/2009 6:05:00 PM
I bought this after youtuber MU guru Kandee Johnson mentioned that she used it as a moisturizer around her eyes. It was only a few bucks at Whole Foods, so I thought why not? Honestly, I really like this product. I will say that I mostly use it on my feet because it is so heavy and so petroleum-like that I can't bring myself to rub it around my eyes. I think Kandee's skin looks amazing though, so someday I may be brave enough to use it as a moisturizer around my eyes...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Physicians Formula - Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Loose Powder
tokyorosa 11/21/2009 5:23:00 PM
I really, really want to love PF products, so I tried this. *sigh* It's a meh powder with a craptastic brush in a craptastic package. That packaging? Seriously? I know the domed lid is supposed to hold the brush, but I just tossed that brush because it kind of reminded me of the tuft of hair at the end of a cow's tail. Icky. As for the powder itself? Ingredients-wise, it's all you could ever want. As far as how it looks on the skin? You are going to be very, very matte. If that's a plus for you, great. If not, keep walking. Like I said, it's a meh powder.
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Blush -MAC - The Perfect Cheek
tokyorosa 11/20/2009 7:41:00 PM
I asked the MAC lady to recommend a blush for blush-phobic me, and she made a bee-line for this product. I have to say, I love it! It's a hint of color (no clowning around!) that suits me perfectly. If I make a mistake (as I tend to do with blush, since I've never really worn it), it's very forgiving. I can lay it on thick and it looks great. I can put on a light dusting and it looks great. Great stuff!
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Masks -Unlisted Brand - Aztec - Indian Healing Clay
tokyorosa 11/20/2009 7:37:00 PM
This is effective, inexpensive, no-frills beauty at its finest. I bought this stuff because it is pure, pure, pure. No hype or advertising. No preservatives or fragrances to irritate skin. No OTT claims about making me look 40% younger or making my wrinkles disappear. This mask works! I mix it with a little water (because I despise vinegar), slather it on, read for half an hour, then chip it away and wash my face with warm water. After, my skin feels smoother and happier. What's not to love?
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Unlisted Brand - Ivory Soap
tokyorosa 11/20/2009 6:36:00 AM
I am a soap fiend. Seriously, there are usually between four and six different kinds of soap in my shower at any given time. But this one is ALWAYS there. I love this soap. I use it daily, face and body, and I have never been disappointed. It's inexpensive, high quality, works well, and doesn't cause me to break out or prompt an allergic reaction on my ridiculously sensitive skin. During the driest part of winter (and I live in the desert, so winter is DRY, no joke), it can be a bit drying, but I just slather on a bit of extra moisturizer.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Jergens - Natural Glow
tokyorosa 11/20/2009 6:28:00 AM
Bought this thinking that it would be nice to have some color on my blindingly white legs. No, it didn't smell great, but we all must suffer for beauty, right? So I purchased it and brought it home and then read the warnings on the back: Stop use if you experience side effects like trouble breathing. WTF?! Because I have sensitive skin and have had trouble with allergic reactions to skin products in the past, this stuff went right back to the store. I mean, seriously? If they put the warning on the label, it means that some people are using this and--what?--dropping dead from it? No cheeto tan is worth that.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Bag Balm
tokyorosa 11/20/2009 6:23:00 AM
This is a staple around the pottery studio where I work. Nothing beats this stuff when the clay has sucked every bit of moisture out of your hands! Someone put a tin of this near the sink and I was skeptical at first, but I'm glad I tried it because it works to soothe trashed hands. I went out and bought my own tin so that I wouldn't have to share (yuck!) and so I'd never run out. No, it doesn't smell great--but remember, it was meant as a medicine for cows and I don't think they care if the medicinal salve being slathered on their cracked udders smells like roses! Much as I enjoy using it on my hands, I can't imagine putting it on my face!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -Crest - Whitestrips Premium
tokyorosa 11/20/2009 6:11:00 AM
My dental hygienist recommended these when I asked about professional whitening. She said to try them out first and if I didn't like the results, we'd talk about the $400 solution. Well, I tried them and the did whiten my teeth noticeably (though they didn't turn them blindingly white). The biggest drawback was the incredible sensitivity that resulted. The packaging says that it is a temporary side effect--and I've never had sensitive teeth, so I thought I'd be fine--but OUCH! The sensitivity lasted longer than the whitening effects. Even after three months, one of my teeth was so sensitive that I couldn't stand hot or cold substances touching it. That was the most annoying thing. One of the other annoying things was the ridiculous packaging. So much plastic for fourteen little packets! And the price for what is essentially a hydrogen peroxide gel is absolutely crazy. Still, I'm glad I tried it. I don't know if I'd try it again, though!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -New York Color - Ultra Moist Lip Wear Retro Red 308B
tokyorosa 11/20/2009 4:04:00 AM
Enough of the sticky, gloopy, glassy, neutral glossy lips! I adore deep shades of red lipstick just like this one. It just seems so grown up. There's nothing more glam than a woman rocking a dark red lipstick. This lipstick is what your grandmother would have worn--if your grandmother was a roller derby queen!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No